Higuaín returns in the absence of Messi and Agüero as Martino names WCQ squad

There are few headlines from Gerardo Martino’s latest Argentina squad but Gonzalo Higuaín’s exile has proved to be short-lived as the Serie A leading scorer returns to the 25-man squad. Following the disastrous start to the campaign with defeat to Ecuador in the Monumental and a point from the trip to Paraguay, the pressure is on ahead of the crunch double-header with Brazil and Colombia. Lionel Messi and Sergio Agüero are both absent and so Higuaín, in addition to Carlos Tevez and Paulo Dybala, who keeps his place, will be tasked with firing Argentina to victory.

Elsewhere, there are few changes from the squad that managed only one point from the opening two qualifiers but Valencia midfielder, Enzo Pérez returns from injury. In a midfield that has lacked the thrust of having a player who can go from box-to-box, Pérez could prove to be a good option, particularly with Roberto Pereyra missing.